Win a Close Encounter to RecruitFest '09

I can't go to Recruitfest this year on September 23rd and 24th, and I'm pissed. It has the unfortunate fate of falling in a month that contains two of my kids' birthdays, my anniversary, my Shriner initiation, and a guest spot on The View. Plus the fact that I'm helping to put on the first ever TalentNet Live Expo here in Dallas to coincide with ERE for those not able to make it to Hollywood, FL.

Suffice to say that It would be difficult for me to get to Toronto next month for Recruitfest. Why not bring the whole family along, or make it a great anniversary trip for me and the wife? I tried that. No go. "What the hell is an unconference?" was a typical response.

The value in attending such a conference is different for everyone. For me it's not so much about learning the latest tricks and trends. I'm egotistical in that I feel I've got that covered. It's more about reminding myself of the basics that bring me the most success. And getting that invaluable renewed passion for the game that comes from communing with my recruiting friends face-to-face. As a recruiter, it's always comforting to see that we are not alone.

I have made so many good friends over the last year on RecruitingBlogs.com, and Twitter, and through my own blog who are going to be at RecruitFest. And knowing I can't attend makes me feel a bit like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters, drawn to Devil's Tower by some unknown force.

So as I sat at dinner last night, absentmindedly carving the shape of Toronto out of my mashed potatoes, I decided that I would help someone else get to Recruitfest. You see, I have a ticket already. And I will give it away to the person who leaves the most compelling comment at www.fishdogs.com to this post telling me why they need or want to go to Recruitfest.

That's it. Leave an Oscar-worthy comment here, and subscribe to my email updates here to qualify. I will announce the winner around the middle of next week. Plenty of time to buy a plane ticket or hitch a ride with Jerry Albright. If the stories, pics, and videos from the last one tell you anything, RecruitFest 09 will be informative, inspirational, and a great chance for a close encounter with your online friends in recruiting.

Someone on Twitter asked if I am really going to be on The View. No, and I'm not going to be a Shriner either. The rest is true. Liking the calm and connected post Maureen. But I'm still pissed I can't go.

Hey Maureen, i clicked that link you left and one needs to sign into your network to see what you linked to, I can't imagine that was intentional so maybe you want to put a proper link so people could see it.

That's a problem isn't it? I dunno how to link from outside so here it is:

This is an important article. It talks about the meaning of time and how time exists only in the moments we exist in. The writer also talks about their "retreat" experience and it got me to thinking about the word "retreat" . I harkened to the writer's words because the experiences of living in the moment is what has brought me the greatest joy in my lifetime. It has also brought me peace and success.

I think about the experience of sourcing and the concentration and delving that it entails. I believe any activity that we engage in mindfully (meaning being wholly present) can bring us the kind of relief that the writer hints at in his article. The first comment in the string asked why does the experience have to happen in a specific place? I agree that it doesn't. It can happen right where we are, sitting in the chair we're sitting, in the car we're driving, in the ditch we're digging if that's what we're called to do.